Actress Lee Joo-sil played the mother of undercover detective Hwang Joon-ho in “Squid Game”. She passed away at the age of 81, three months after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported on February 2 that actress Lee Joo-sil had passed away at the age of 81. She had made an appearance in the second season of “Squid Game.”
The paper reported that the actress died at her home in the city of Uijeongbu. She had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2024.
Lee began her career in the 1960s, performing in theater and as a voice actress, before entering the world of K-drama. She participated in projects such as “Train to Busan” (2016) and “The Uncanny Counter” (2021).
She had previously battled breast cancer at the age of 50. At the time, doctors gave her less than a year to live, but she overcame the disease.
Internet users took to social media to mourn Lee Joo-sil’s passing. “Rest in peace. I can’t watch this scene without crying now,” wrote one of them on X, formerly Twitter.
“Rest in peace, Lee Joo-sil haelmoni.” Haelmoni means “grandmother” in Korean, a loving term for older women.
Photo: Netflix Instagram @bkindaeyo. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.